We are in the
era of austerity ;the NHS being stretched to its limits, the climate of our underfunded healthcare seeming
to plummet to its depths, and yet the
need to address mental health issues can
be felt more than ever before. With the suicide numbers climbing but lack of
resources to meet demand, the prospects for the younger demographic looks all
the more grim. Reflected in today's statistics, England possess the highest suicide rate since 2004. But this goes further, as a more global
pandemic. WHO predicts incidence of mental health will soar from ¼ to ½ by 2020 .
Our brightest
lights are being put out, and I do not just speak of Robin Williams, but this
2016, will be a year commemorating the
death of 18 year old Edward Mallen. A stellar, prodigious student with
prospects in university of Cambridge, took his own life, after battling
depression, having started on anti-depressants.
This is an
awakening, like nothing else, that something must be done.
For me, I am a mental health enthusiast. I see that many
people still try to deny that stigmatisation exists. That in part is the
problem. By denying a problem exists, we remove our ability to change it, we
stagnate, and fail in the face of the public. Aforementioned, Edward Mallen,
has become yet another victim of the system. Suicide rates are ever increasing.
However, we can make the difference. Our word is more potent, than just mine. I
am a single, person, I know that simple recognition is a vacuous achievement in
the face of the stark reality; that is people are counting on healthcare
professionals to take a stand. We save lives, by building an environment, where
“excellence in clinical care would flourish”
and I am simply quoting the 7th pillar of the community
pharmacy contractual framework . I know you believe this too.
A great many people,
still don’t have access to mental health support. Times are changing, and the
21st Century is seeing advancements in the sector. Furthermore, I had the fortune to experience a placement at
mile end , mental health hospital and
needless to say, it surpassed my expectations incontrovertibly . However, more than ever before, the fact has
become abundantly evident, that NHS is really struggling. The underfunding, has
taken a tow on staffing, I feel this is where pharmacists, have the opportunity
to step in, stronger than ever before.
Adopting this
principle, we can only imagine what benefit can be wrought if we use this ideology
in our professional practices. Pharmacists role, is moving forward, and I am
proud, of the achievements of the field. No longer, seen as mere dispensing
profession, we see the multifaceted opportunities and the value its position
represents. The amplitude and scope ever-growing to new heights- reaching out
to consultant, GP clinics and research. With the necessary training, community pharmacy can be the frontline to mental
health treatment. We already address the issues of many other minor ailments. Here
lies that answer for mental health. It will reduce the number of issues, engendered by lack of appointment
availability, having to delay, urgent referrals. This in many cases is
deadly as with Edward Mallen.
You would think that the news of this, was
startling enough, what could be worse than teenage suicide rates increasing? Euthanasia-
assisted suicide. Until recently, I was not aware that it was even legal. As a
health professional – abiding by the standards of conduct, ethics and
performance to put the patient first and implicitly do no harm, to even
considered this, goes against all instinct.
To go beyond
this point of contention, I may concede that certain conditions may call for
this; certain terminal cancers at a stage where death may be a mercy.To find
that the same approach was proposed for mental health sufferers, was at the
very least worrying.
The
rudimentary characteristic of psychiatric conditions is that it robs the victim
of a rational state of sound mind. It therefore baffles me that we can even consider
this to be a viable alternative offered in patient care. After having
researched this procedure, legalised in Belgium, the psychiatry consultant
discusses how all possible mental health treatments must first be exhausted
before, this is proposed. But this in no way mitigates the glaringly obvious
fact that this is assisted suicide. In primitive terms, this can be tantamount
to saying, “ we have no other treatments available for you, and it seems wrong
to leave you in pain, so …. Would you consider suicide?”. Euthanasia is a
glamorous, word for the very thing that we go to such lengths to avoid. It
negates the effort many ; years of mental health research, and funding towards improving
mental health research, becomes meaningless. Why does it come to this? As some
struggle in the “battlefields” searching for a solution, others have tragically
been handed a solution with no return.
Clearer than ever
before, is the revelation that stigmatisation needs to end. This is not fear
mongering, this heralds the need to end denial, and realise that by admitting there is an issue,
there can be a means to end of this suffering.
Dr Brock Chisholm, first
director WHO legendary quote that “without mental health there can be no true
physical health” rings true, more than ever before. If we are to make a change in the
status quo, we must address existing, attitude dynamics towards mental health in
society. Mental health must be seen to be encompassed within a mind-body dichotomy,
inextricably linked and not separate issue. It needs to be recognised and
addressed rather than avoided or worse, made to seem terminal. When I had
joined Kings Volunteering, I had learnt many values but one seems to be are
embedded in my memory forever. If
volunteers by their just their presence could succeed in improving mental
health and clinical outcomes- What is the limit to what we can achieve?
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBCdBVhlPOFhGfrInP8IJsM0sgWqgKhzbdt22pUPcFULqCzsatT9BpYcXKqJee9y8o4eu5bzskU1ugU7wR6vYuKQsBMSVWcLZ-9z6Wbje93auvbUbcKQNH7TK8BhSCpZRd3pe-1F59N2p/s320/mental-health-thumbnail.jpg
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/field/field_related_document/volunteering-in-health-literature-review-kingsfund-mar13.pdf
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/field/field_related_document/volunteering-in-health-literature-review-kingsfund-mar13.pdf
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